A note from Head Brewer Ryan on September brews

August 30, 2018 9:40 am

Head Brewer Ryan’s Blog

A note from our Head Brewer Ryan, on all of our upcoming beers for this September:

Brim Reaper Rye IPA is our newest beer to join our year round offerings- tested out in the Brewer’s Den and taproom and now coming to a liquor store/bar near you. A 7% IPA brewed with 10% Rye malt which incorporates spicy and dry characteristics then hopped with a heavy dose of Mosaic, Simcoe, Cascade and Falconers Flight hops which gives off a rich bitterness and the aroma of papaya, tangerine, passion fruit, lemon and heavy tropical and citrus notes. Available in 12oz 6pks, on tap at your local bar and at the FINNEGANS taproom.

Our first ever Fresh Hop, Running with Axes, a fresh hop Pale Ale brewed exclusively with Minnesota grown fresh hops by Mighty Axe Hops is hitting the market in a couple weeks and we couldn’t be more excited. Over 150LBS of hops per batch of Centennial and Cascade hops will be picked just days before brewing the beer. It will be a classically styled pale ale with a caramel like backbone but brewed with earthy, piney and citrus like hop undertones. Clocking in at 5.5% ABV and an unknown IBU until the hops have been picked from their vines. Available in 12oz 4packs and on tap only for a limited time. So get it while it’s fresh!

Be on the lookout for our Octoberfest (and FINNtoberfest event details), and the next of our Barrels of Life series, Oakedtoberfest, and yes friends, the Dead Irish Poet Extra Stout is making it’s return soon, very soon..

Here’s what’s in the tanks right now:

Cosmic Snowball: Single Hop IPA 7.1% ABV 60 IBUS

Comet Hops!! One of my absolute favorites. Their high intensity of grapefruit flavor makes me salivate just writing this. We wanted the hop to shine with this IPA. We only used our usual base of 2-Row malt and this single gem of a hop. You get the pine and oak like character of this hop from a heavy dose of early additions and the citrus, lemongrass and wet earth aromas from tons of late hop additions. We might be planning on brewing more of this with the addition of grapefruit puree so stay tuned.

Farm to Kettle: Cascade Wet Hop Pale 5.6% ABV 35 IBUS

Logan and I drove down to Iowa on a Monday morning to a multi farm hop grower to see our fresh cut wet hops being plucked from their bines and bagged right in front of us. These Cascade hops give off notes of fresh cut grass, slight pine and citrus undertones that are the combination of all that is good. We used 105 pounds of wet hops in this pale ale. It turned out not bitter and just the right amount of hoppy vegetal character from these fluffy and sticky cones to make you want just one more pint.

Kriek: Belgian Style Sour Cherry Ale 7.6%Abv 22 IBUS

After picking 35 pounds of Northstar Cherries from the park nearest my house for my own consumption in early summer I wished I had more to put into a beer. Their tart yet sweet character made my homemade pie, infused gin and vodkas made me think.,”Why not bring that to my beers.” What a better way to showcase cherry flavor then a Belgian style ale with its yeast qualities of clove and bubblegum to meld with 90 pounds of pressed cherries. With 9 pounds of cherries per barrel this delightful, flavorful and refreshing ale we can raise a pint to that long wait of harvest, to that right moment of when the fruit is at its best and to the that wonderful blend of beer and a delectable fruit.

Oktoberfest: Marzen Style Lager 5.1%ABV 20 IBUS

If an entire nations brewers had invented a beer for Erin’s and my wedding as the German brewers did with the Marzen Lager I would every day thank them humbly. Brewed with 98% Munich malt and a little caramel malt for color it makes me feel like saying Prost! Lagered at cold temperatures for thirty plus days this German style Marzen lager with have you dancing in your seat, enjoying bratwursts and partying all day at our September 20th-21stFINNtoberfest celebration.

Abstruse: Belgian Style Ale 6.8% ABV 34 IBUS

Meaning “Difficult to Comprehend”. It’s a blend of American IPA and a Belgian ale all at the same time. Two of my favorite things. I realize I say my favorites a lot. This ale was brewed with Chinook, Centennial and Mosaic. Then dry hopped with more Mosaic, Manderina Bavaria and Loral hops. With hints of orange and floral notes it melds Belgian style and IPA beautifully. It is not an for IPA the hop heads , its not a Belgian beer for the purists. It a beer for the beer adventurer, wanderluster, multi-pint drinkers and who, we at FINNEGANS, like to call our regulars. Top 5 I’ve brewed so far.

Amber Loon: American Amber Lager

An American Lager brewed with Americas original craft brewers yeast strain. Thank you, San Francisco. Brewed with Chinook and Cascade hops to bring out what we have learned and loved to enjoy in our beers. Pine and citrus. Lightly dryhopped to bring out more of our personal preferences. A beer for every person under the sun. Our state bird will be calling.